Niederau for Three Flutes (2011)

Our Description

Commissioned by and written for Tempest Flute Trio.

Composer's Notes

"A bus runs the length of the Wildschönau in the Austrian Tirol, a charming valley much favoured by skiers in the winter and general holiday makers in the summer.

At its furthest point from civilisation (before the road runs out) lies Thierbach, which is little more than a farm and bus stop.

One stop nearer is Aufbach which is rather more active (some restuarants and bars) with a splendid chairlift nearby, a wood museum and colourful parades with marching bands, lederhosen, dirndls and some dead animals on trucks. The road bends almost 90 degrees anbd continues on to Oberau (even more restaurants and bars) where sits a double solar-powered swimming pool. And then, Niederau which has two chairlifts, even more etc etc, a supermarket with a view better than West Kirby Morrison's and many hotels, one of which is called the 'Harfenwirt' where I and my children have stayed on several occasions. The 'Harfenwirt' is run by a Fawlty-esque harp-playing landlord (hence the name of the hotel) called Herbert. Another hotel owned by Herbert regulary hosts one of many local wind bands' concerts.

The village of Niederau holds very fond memories and the flute trio Tempest fondly recalls those memories although the piece is really more concerned with the technical and expressive possibilities of three identical instruments conceived as a single hyper- or 3D-flute and with the harmonic and spatial possibilities implicit therein." - Gary Carpenter, 2011

Performance duration (approx): 8'00

Movements

1. Thierbach
2. Aufach
3. Oberau
4. Niederau

Item Details

Instrumentation

• Part 1: Flute
• Part 2: Flute
• Part 3: Flute